Crutch and cushion-tip therefor



M. BRUYERE. CBUTCII AND CUSHION TIP THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17,I920.

1,347,320, Patented July 20,1920.

anon x 50:

UNETED STATES MOSE BBUYERE, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

' CRUTCH CUSHION-TIP THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1y 20, 1920.

Application filed February 17, 1920. Serial No. 359,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, Mosn BnUYnnn, a citi-,

zen of the United States, residing at Green Bay, in the county of Brown,State of lVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Crutch andCushion-Tip Therefor; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilledrin the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. 1

The invention relates to crutches and has for its object to provide animproved cushion tip for the lower end of the crutch, whereby the shockincident to the lower end of the crutch coming in contact with theground, while the crutch is being used, will be taken up. 7 r

A further object is to provide a cushion tip for crutches comprising acylindrical member carried by the lower end of the crutch, saidcylindrical member. adjacent its lower end being provided withdiametrically disposed slots in which a pin carried by a cylindricalmember telescopically engaging the first cylindrical member isguided,there being a coiled spring disposed between the lower end of the clutchcarrying cylindrical member and the bottom of the telescopicallyengaging member for normally holding said telescopically engaging memberextended. Also to provide the crutch carrying cylindrical member with athreaded sleeve, the lower end of which sleeve telescopically engagesover the spring actuated cylindrical member.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement in parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crutch showing thecushion tip applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the cushion tip and telesoopicalsleeves.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a crutch whichcomprises bars 2 which are formed from metallic channels and have theirflanges disposed inwardly. The upper ends of the bars 2 are providedengaging member 5.

with inwardly extending lugs 3 which are secured by means of screws 4 toan arm pit Disposed within the channels 2 and between their flanges arebars 6 which are also formed from metallic channels. Bars 6 and bars 2are provided with apertures 7 which are adapted to be brought intoregistration with each other according to whether the crutch is beingextended or shortened. Passing through the registering apertures '7 arescrews 8, which screws enter the ends of a hand grip 9, there holdingthe channels 2 and 6 in any position to which they may have been moved.The lower ends of the channels 6 are secured together by means of rivets9 which pass through said ends and also through a V-shaped block 10disposed between the lower ends of the channels. The lower ends ofthechannels 6 are solid and at a point b'elow the V-shaped block 10 theyare semi-circular in cross section so that when they are broughttogether they form a cylindrical extension 11. 7

A cylindrical member 12is forced on the extension 11 andhas its lowerend 13 extending below the extension 11 The cylindrical member 12 hasits lower end closed as at 14 and provided with diametrically disposedslots 15. Slidably mounted on the lower end of the cylindrical member 12is a sleeve 16, which sleeve is provided with a transversely disposedpin 17 which passes through the diametrically disposed slots 15 and isadapted to be guided in said slots as the sleeve 16 moves upwardly anddownwardly. Slots 1'3 also limit the movement of the sleeve 16 in bothdirections. A coiled spring 18 has its upper end in engagement with theclosed end 14; of the cylindrical member 12 and its lower end disposedin a reduced portion 19 of the slidable sleeve 16 and has its lower endin engagement with the closed lower end 20 of the slidable sleeve 16. A.rubber shoe 21 is disposed on a reduced portion of the slidable sleeve16 so as to prevent wear on said slidable portion 16. Cylindrical member12 is provided with exterior threads 22 and threaded on said cylindricalmember is a sleeve 23. The lower end of the sleeve 23 is provided withan enlarged portion 24 which telescopically e11- gages over the slidablesleeve 16. The enlarged portion 2-1 assists in bracing the slidablesleeve during its upward and downward movement and also forms means forpreventing dirt and other foreign matter from entering the annular space:25 and diametrically disposed slots 15. Threaded on the upper end ofthe cylindrical member 12 is a sleeve 26 which adds finish to the deviceand at the same time protects the thread 22.

It will beseen that as the weight of the verse movement of the slidablesleeve 16 the 7 spring 18 will force said sleeve downwardly and the pin1;? will, when it engages the lower ends of the slots:15, limit theoutward movement of the slidablesleeve 1.6.

From the above it will be seen that a cushion tip for crutches isprovided wherein the action is positive, dirt prevented from enteringthe tip so as to interfere with the workings of the parts .and onewhereinva slidable sleeve is prevented from rotating and consequentdanger of accident.

The invention having beenv set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. The combination with. a crutch having a cylindrical sleevedisposed on its lower end, of a slidable sleeve slidably mounted on thecrutch carrying sleeve, slidable connections between the crutch'carryingsleeve and the slidable sleeve for preventing rotation of said slidablesleeve and limiting the same in its upward and downward movement, thelower end of the crutch carrying sleeve being closed, the lower end ofthe slidable sleeve being closed, a spring disposed between saidclosedends for normally holding the slid-able sleeve extended, and asleeve carried by the crutch carrying sleeve and provided with anenlarged portion telescopically engaging over the upper end of theslidable sleeve. r

2. The combinatien'withacrutch having a cylindrical sleeve disposedonits lower end, of a slidable-sleeve slidably mounted on the crutchcarrying sleeve, a pin carried by the upper end of the slidable sleeve,said pin being disposed in diametrically disposed slots ofthe crutchcarrying sleeve, the lower ends of the sleeves being closed, resilientmeansdisposed between the closed ends for normally holding the slidablesleeve extended, a sleeve threaded on'the crutch carryingsleeve andprovided with an enlarged portion telescopically engaging the upper endof the slidable sleeve, anda resilient shoe disposed on the lower end,of the slidable sleeve,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

'MosE BR-UYERE.

- flVitnesses-ir A; MoCoMB,

" R. M. MONGIN.

